National 12 Open at Aldeburgh Yacht Club

Visitors to Aldeburgh on Saturday were greeted by sunshine and a force 3 southwesterly breeze. A total of 12 boats assembled representing 70 years of sailing dinghy development and construction.

A strong contingent travelled from Yorkshire to take part in the newly designated vintage event. The eldest boat being the immaculate N341 Mat part the Gatti collection with the youngest vintage entry being N2452 Phobos sailed by Rit Walton.

N3457 Ebba and N3500 Crazy Diamond represented dinghies constructed to the latest rules, but sadly not a Dead cat Bounce or a winged rudder to be seen.

PRO Patrick Gifford set excellent courses avoiding the local traffic. A pattern soon emerged with Paul and Freya Pelling taking two firsts despite the best efforts and local knowledge of Antony and Jo Gifford sailing N3348 Charlotte Anne. After 2 races Howard Chadwick, crewed by local Lesley Downing lead the vintage fleet with a 6th and 5th place. Bernard Clark was unlucky to touch a moored tender, local rules calling for retirement. The recently restored N760 Bobtail was the first of the ribbed boats. The effects of a leaking centreboard case checked by the frantic bailing of crew Tom Chalker.

Sunday dawned with temperature still in the mid 20s but the wind increased to a steady force 5. Of the ribbed boats Jonathan Reuben’s N443 Cygnet ventured briefly onto the water. A late night repair to a damaged thwart in N2149 Xanthus enabled the remaining vintage fleet continue with some close racing.

3 races sailed back-to-back were completed before the tide turned with an expectation of rough water south of the Club. At the front of the fleet Antony and Jo continued to chase Paul Pelling now crewed by son Guy.

Race 3 sent the fleet upriver to the old brickworks. This include some memorable reaching with fast planing throughout the fleet. In Race 4 Antony and Jo were unlucky to be overtaken on the last beat towards the Martello Tower by Paul and Guy. Despite a late charge on the run to the finish Paul and Guy held on to a slender lead for win number four to take the Ganymede Trophy. The Gifford’s persistence paid of in the end with a win in race 5 demonstrating that the Design 8 still remains a competitive boat in the right hands. In the vintage fleet Triada recorded an excellent 5th and 4th to secure first place from Paul turner sailing N2020 Starfish.

So a fine weekend of sailing on the Alde came to a close. Thanks to the hospitality of Aldeburgh Yacht Club, the expertise of PRO Patrick Gifford, the visitors have promised to return next year with reinforcements ensuring this fixture continues the long association of the class at the AYC.

Overall Results:

First vintage boat, Triada 2266
First ribbed boat, Bobtail 760